Means to an End

Sami waited in the shadows. She needed to talk to EJ and ask what he had meant by his toast. He couldn't really be leaving Salem. Sami needed to marry him to protect her secret. She was about to step out from her hiding place when the door opened again and Benji, Tony and Lexie came out and waked pass her. She didn't stay put for long after that.

"Come in Samantha", she heard someone call her as she was about to make her escape. Had she had little more time to think about it and had she not had so many unanswered questions she might have done her first intention and left. As it was she obeyed Stefanos call and stepped through the door closing the door behind her.

"It's time we talk", he just said and gestured for her to take the seat opposite to his.

"Yes", Sami said and did her best to master the fear within her.

Tony grabbed Benji by the arm and forced him to meet his gaze.

"I want to know what have you done", he demanded to know. Lexie glided little closer and smirked. She seemed to be enjoying their ignorance.

"Tony, let him go. Benji doesn't know as much as he thinks he know. And as to what he's done, you might want to add kidnapping a family member to that list." Her words hit their marks as Benji realized Teks hurry had ruined more than he had thought.

"Benji had you kidnapped?" Tony was dumbfounded.

"Yes", was their sisters simple answer.

"I'll never understand why father took you back in after all those years. It must have had something to do with what you help him to do for Steve Johnson. Without you they never would have succeeded breaking him down and programmed him." Tony was just making wild accusations without knowing just how close to the truth they were. He was close enough to scare Benji.

"What did you want to talk about with me?" Sami asked. She looked like she was ready to jump and run the second Stefano would show any signs of hurting her.

"About the truth. About ending this vedetta between our families and about EJ."

"Those are quite long discussions. Are you sure we have enough time for all three topics?"

"Dearest Samatha. Those three are all connected", Stefano replied and sipped his drink. He was trying to find the right words but after so many years the beginning was getting more difficult to find. Finally he decided to try and force her to see the light:

"To end this feud between our families, a Brady must make a sacrifice equal to that which was stolen from us. You Samantha and you alone have the power to make that sacrifice. I do not take pleasure in saying this after all that your mother once meant to me but it is one of the harsh truths. The choice is yours."

"What choice are you talking about? Me marrying your son?"

"Yes. You must marry EJ and raise your children with him as DiMeras."

"That's impossible", she tried to object.

"It's the only way to end the feud. Unfortunately if you choose to make this sacrifice and save your blood from extinction you have to fight your own grandfather for the truth and you must fight EJ and his chivalry." Stefanos revelation arose only more questions from which Sami chose one:

"Why?"

"Because Shawn knows. He has always known. You just need to find the truth behind his lies."

"I will ask granpa but why would I need to fight EJ in this? I got the impression that marrying me was something he wanted to do", Sami was still baffled.

"He's come to realize few truths of his own and those were told by people wanting hurt him. He's now even more determined to save you from this war than ever", Stefano reached for the envelope in his pocket, "This will help you understand my son. Read it first. Then decide whether you want to return to your home and content yourself with what you already have or do you want to fight for someone who is willing to give up everything he's worked for his whole life for you." Sami took the envelope trying to make sense of it all.

"Have a good day my dear", Stefano said and left. Sami glanced out of the window and saw how right he was. It was morning.